Dirigible control



W. GIGLIATTI.

DIRIGIBLE CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3. 1920.

1 0 922 Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

g/ff/ y WITNESSES:

- w. GIGLIATTI.

DIRIGIBLE CONTROL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 3, 1920.

' Patented Nov. 30, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

i W. av' wam UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM GIGLIATTI, OF NORTH ADAMS, MASSACHUSETTS.

DIRIGIBLE CONTROL.

Application filed April 3,

ToaZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIA GioLiA'r'rI,

a citizen of the United States. residing at North Adams, in the county of Berkshire and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Dirigible Controls, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to dirigible controls or in other words, means for controlling and guiding the movement of a lighter than air flying machine. whereby the latter may'rise Q from its circumscribed area and make a safe landing under the same conditions.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement herein fully described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a fragmentary elevation of a dirigible illustrating the improved controlling means.

Fig. 2 is a view taken at a right angle to Fig. 1 showing the same controlling means.

9! Referring to the drawings, 1 designates -a portion of the car of a dirigible or lighter fthan air flying machine.

Y In carrying out the present invention, the car is provided in the bottom thereof with a depending propeller 2 and is provided in the opposite sides thereof with propellers 3 revolving upon horizontal shafts and adapted to direct the movement of the vehicle and the car 1 so as to effect a safe landing in a circumscribed space. The propellers 2 and 3 are geared by suitable connection to an engine 4 located centrally of and within the car, the connections between said propellers and engine including clutch mechanism whereby one or more of said propellers 2 and 3 may be thrown into and out of operation at will.

Driven b the engine 4 is an air compressor 5 having associated therewith the oppositely extending branches or legs of an air manifold 6. The opposite ends of the manifold 6 communicate with upright air conduits 7, said conduits 7 being arranged in spaced and parallel relation to each other as shown. Valves 8 are located at the points of juncture between the manifold 6 and the conduits 7 so that air from the compressor may be released through the conduits 7 or cut off therefrom forv a purpose which will.

appear.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30,1920.

1920. Serial No. 371,072.

' right shafts 8 are overhead stabilizing screws or propellers 9 rotatable on vertical parallel axes as shown, the propellers 9 being driven by air blast from the upright conduits 7 hereinabove described.

The conduits 7 are connected by a horizontal pipe or conduit 10 and connected centrally to the pipe or conduit 10 is an upright air conduit 11 the admission of air to which is controlled by a valve 12 at the point of juncture between the pipes 10 and 11 as shown. Fast on a central vertical propeller shaft 13 is a centrally arranged stabilizing screw or propeller 14 which is driven by the blast of air from the upright conduits 11. Casings 15 of inverted cone shape extend upwardly from the upright conduits 7 and 11 and the upper larger end portions thereof inclose the stabilizing propellers or screws 9 and 14.

In making a descent, the stabilizing propellers 9 and 14 are preferably stopped and the descending propeller 2 which pulls downwardly is thrown into operation. If the operator finds that the dirigible is not going to land at the exact spot desired he throws into operation one or the other of the propellers 3 and thereby directs the movement of the dirigible accordingly. In ascending and during actual flight, the stabilizing propeller or screws 9 and 14 materially assist in maintaining the equilibrium of'the machine and in restoring the equilibrium whenever necessary, as their rapid rotation effect a gyroscopic action. Another way in which these stabilizing propellers operate is that the propellers, even while rotating, tendto retard the passage of air through the casings in which the propellers are located and in this way it will be seen that if either side of the machine is low with respect to the other, permitting the air to pass to the propeller 9 on that side, will tend to retard the passage of air and will therefore exert an upward movement ofthe lower side of the machine in order to re store the stability thereof.

Vhat is claimed is 1. The combination with a dirigible flying machine, of an engine driven air compressor, a manifold in communication with said air compressor, substantially upright air conduits in communication with said manifold. valves controlling the communication between said manifolds and conduits. and stabilizing -screws arranged above said l 7 ing machine, of an engine driven air comconduits and adapted to be driven by the air blast from said conduits.

2. The combination with a dirigible fiying machine, of an engine driven air compressor, a manifold extending in opposite directions therefrom, substantially upright air conduits in communication with said manifold, valves controlling the communication between the conduits and manifold,

stabilizing screws arranged above'said conduits and actuated by the air blast therefrom, an inverted cone shaped housing in communication with said upright conduits and containing said stabilizing screw.

3. The combination with a'dirigible flysaid stabilizing screw,

ilizing propeller shafts having their axes coincident with the longitudinal axes of said upright a'ir conduits, stabilizing propellers on said shaft, a third stabilizing screw arranged between said previously mentioned stabilizing screw, an air conduit for discharging air against said third stabilizing screw, and a valve for controlling the last named air supply.

4. The combination with a dirigible flying machine, of overhead stabilizing screws, an engine driven air compressor, air conduits for furnishing air from said air compressors to said stabilizing screws for imparting motion to the latter, a descending propeller arranged in a lower plane than and directional propellers arranged in opposed relation to each other, and rotatable on substantially horizontal axes.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

, WILLIAM GIGLIATTI. 

